The Traitor Queen (22 page)

One of the Traitors was examining the pouch of sumi leaves with puzzlement.

“They’re for a hot drink,” Sonea explained. “I’ll prepare some later.”

“Like raka?” one of them asked.

Sonea shook her head. “Same idea, different plant.” The supplies provided at the Fort hadn’t included raka.

“We have raka.”

She straightened. “You do?”

Savara chuckled. “It is a good drink to have while talking. Or negotiating.”

The food was passed around, each person taking a portion. Sonea added spices to the beans and grains when they were ready.
The Traitors were particularly fond of the sweets. Savara prepared a pot of raka and surprisingly small cups were passed to
her for filling. Sonea’s own mug returned barely half full, but as she sipped she realised why. The raka was so strong it
was syrupy, and after a few sips she felt as if her ears were buzzing.

As each Traitor received their cup they rose and moved away, until only Savara remained. It was full night now, and more globe
lights appeared as those who had left gathered in smaller groups several paces away. Savara moved closer, so that they formed
a smaller circle.

“We arrived later than we hoped, and you must be anxious to return to Kyralia, so let us begin without delay.” She looked
at Lorkin. “It was the wish of our late queen, Zarala, that Lorkin act as negotiator today. Are you in agreement on this?”

Sonea looked at her son, who appeared to be holding back a grin. “Yes, your majesty. I carry the blood ring of Lord Osen,
Administrator of the Guild. Do you object to me wearing it?”

“No.” Savara looked at Lorkin. “Begin, Lord Lorkin.”

Sonea slipped Osen’s ring on.

—
Osen?

—
Sonea
.

—
We’re about to begin negotiations
.

Lorkin drew in a deep breath. “Queen Zarala asked me to arrange a meeting between the Traitors and the Allied Lands in the
hope of negotiating an alliance.”

Sonea nodded. “What kind of alliance are we discussing? Are the Traitors seeking to join the Allied Lands? That requires compliance
with an agreed core of rules that apply to all and with a few specific to each land.”

“What are these core rules?” Savara asked.

“Non-aggression toward other lands in the alliance. Adherence to a set of laws regarding trade, crime and magic. Military
support in defence of the Allied Lands. Outlawing slavery.”

“The first and last we agree with wholeheartedly.” Savara’s lips thinned. “What are the laws you speak of?”

Sonea listed them, with Osen’s assistance. Savara listened, nodding from time to time. When Sonea finished, the queen laced
her fingers together.

“Some of these laws are similar to our own, some are not. It is your control of magicians my people may object to. Especially
your restrictions on the knowledge and use of higher magic.”

“You have restrictions that we would not agree with as well. I believe magic is only taught to women Traitors, unless the
man is a natural.”

“Yes, but restrictions based on gender are already catered for in the alliance. The Lonmar people only teach magic to men.
If the alliance can accommodate their traditions, could it not accommodate ours?”

“It is likely it could. Black magic, on the other hand, is a more difficult issue.”

Savara smiled and gestured toward Sonea. “Yet the Guild has black magicians.”

“Only as many as we feel are necessary for our defence.”

The queen’s expression became serious. “Do you really think three is enough?”

Sonea met and held the woman’s eyes. This was no time to be admitting to doubts.

“Yes.”

Savara’s eyebrows rose. “I hope that a situation never arises to test that. My people are not so willing to put their safety
in the hands of a few. We will not agree to an alliance that requires us to stop teaching our daughters higher magic.”

“We expected that.” Sonea smiled as the queen’s gaze sharpened. “We are willing to negotiate an exception in the case of Traitors,
with conditions.”

“What are these conditions?”

“You have not objected to our law that all magicians be trained at the Guild,” Sonea observed.

“No.” Savara looked amused. “It would be an opportunity we’d be foolish to turn down.”

“The condition is this: your magicians must not be taught black magic until they have graduated, and the teaching of it must
be done by Traitors, in Sachaka.”

A small line appeared between Savara’s brows. She nodded slowly.

“That might be acceptable.”

“Of course, if King Amakira learns of an agreement between us he will cause us both trouble. He will try to stop your novices
reaching us.”

Savara waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, that won’t be a problem.”

“Once they’re in Kyralia it will be harder to conceal what is happening. We could disguise them as Elynes.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

—
She seems a little too confident about that
, Osen noted.

—
Indeed
.

“Perhaps you believe that King Amakira, not knowing where Sanctuary is, is no threat to you, but if you want the young women
you send to us for training to be safe you had best remember that he
does
know where Imardin is,” Sonea warned.

Savara smiled. “There will be no need for secrecy. By the time we are ready to send magicians to the Guild, if we decide to
do so, King Amakira and the Ashaki will be a problem long resolved.”

Sonea heard Regin draw in a quick breath. She found herself staring at the queen. A thrill ran through her, followed by a
stab of fear.

—
They mean to attack the Ashaki!
Osen exclaimed.

Savara leaned forward. “You said an alliance included military support in
defence
of the Allied Lands. I am guessing that offensive military support is a different matter. Even so, you are old enemies of
the Sachakan Empire. Therefore I invite the Allied Lands to join us in ridding Sachaka of the Ashaki and slavery. You may
not be able to offer many fighters, since so few of you learn higher magic, but your strength and Healing assistance would
be invaluable.” She leaned back again. “Will you help us?”

L
orkin watched his mother closely. Though her gaze was still on Savara, it did not quite focus on the queen, but somewhere
beyond. He looked down at the ring on her finger. She was communicating with Osen. He noticed another ring that he’d not seen
before. It, too, held a gemstone but the setting was decorative, suggesting it was mere jewellery.

“We need time to discuss it,” she said. “There are a lot of monarchs to contact.”

Savara nodded. “You have until tomorrow night. I’d give you longer, but my people are vulnerable when outside Sanctuary. I
know I am behaving as if we cannot lose, but there is no point discussing a future relationship based on the current situation.”

“Is there no chance of a future relationship if you lose?”

The queen’s expression became grim. “Perhaps a slim one. If we lose it would be likely the Ashaki will find out where Sanctuary
is. Without Sanctuary we have no food, shelter and, temporarily, no gemstone-growing caves. We will be more concerned with
our survival and recovery than an alliance with the Allied Lands.”

Sonea was frowning. “That would put the caves in the Ashaki’s hands. Could they begin to grow their own stones?”

“They might discover on their own, in time. It is more likely they would force a captive Traitor to teach them, though they
couldn’t gain all our knowledge from one or even a handful of Traitors. We have avoided teaching individual stone-makers how
to make every kind of stone, instead of spreading the knowledge among many. How dangerous the Ashaki would become would depend
on which Traitor or Traitors they captured.”

As the two women fell into a thoughtful silence, Lorkin cleared his throat.

“Whether the Traitors win or lose, an exchange of knowledge between them and the Guild would still be beneficial.”

Savara turned to look at him, her expression apologetic. “But that exchange has already been made.”

“It has and it hasn’t.” Lorkin shrugged. “As with stone-making, Healing knowledge is too broad to be communicated in a short
mind-read. Though you will work out more in time, you will make mistakes along the way. Like stone-making, mistakes can be
dangerous. Better to be trained by those already skilled in the art.”

His mother was frowning. “They already know Healing?” she asked him.

Savara sighed. “Yes. One of our people disobeyed our law and stole it from Lorkin’s mind. She has been punished, and to compensate
Lorkin, Queen Zarala decreed that he be taught stone-making.”

Lorkin watched his mother closely. A range of expressions crossed her face: shock, anger and gratitude. She gave him a thoughtful
look. He concentrated on her presence, wondering
if he could pick up surface thoughts again. A faint, distant feeling of pride touched his senses, but he could have been imagining
it. At least it wasn’t disapproval or disappointment.
Yet. She doesn’t know what stone-making involves
.

“So …” Sonea said. “One of your people already knows the basics of how Healing works, and one of mine has about the same level
of stone-making knowledge. But as Lorkin says, that does not measure up to full training from a teacher with many years of
skill and experience. We do still have something worth trading.”

“Except …” Lorkin interrupted. She turned to regard him, her face calm. “They are not of equal value.”

Savara’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Which is of greater value?”

“Healing,” Lorkin replied.

“Why is that?”

“You need nothing more than knowledge and magic to be a Healer,” Lorkin told her. “Stone-making magicians require stone-producing
caves.”

“What are they, exactly?” his mother asked.

“Caves where the crystalline stones form naturally. Magical gemstones are trained as they grow. I’ve never heard of any caves
like these in the Allied Lands.” He spread his hands. “Not that I’ve been looking for them. It may be that we’ll find them
if we search. But until we do have our own caves, we cannot apply stone-making knowledge.”

“Alchemists may find another way to make them,” Regin pointed out. “They already make some kinds of crystals. Perhaps stone-making
magic can be applied to those.”

Savara’s eyes brightened with interest. “Do they really?” Then her lips quirked into a crooked smile. “Ah, but there is another
catch. You will have to relax your rules regarding
higher magic, since it is needed in stone-making. Your current black magicians may not be suited to the task, either. It demands
a level of concentration and patience that not everyone can manage, which will also consume more of your defenders’ attention
than is wise – and you will only be able to make a handful of stones a year.”

Lorkin caught his breath as his mother turned to stare at him. Guilt and fear rose, but he forced himself to meet her gaze
levelly. Her eyes flickered back to Savara, then her face went still, her feelings hidden behind a false calm.

“I see,” she said. “That does make the exchange a little … more costly to us than for you.”

Lord Regin had turned to regard Lorkin as well, but his gaze lingered. His eyes were narrowed, but his expression was more
thoughtful than disapproving. Lorkin felt a perverse annoyance at the lack of surprise in the man’s demeanour.

“Perhaps, then, we could exchange Healing for stones,” Savara suggested. “Your Healers could work for us and the Guild would
receive stones in payment.”

Extending his senses, Lorkin tried again to hear his mother’s surface thoughts. What he picked up seemed too out of character,
however. He must be imagining it. Though … it was also odd that he would imagine his mother thinking such a string of curse
words.

“They will be safe,” Savara said in reply to whatever had been asked while he was distracted. “The individual who attacked
Lorkin did so out of a desire to bring Healing to my people that many sympathise with. But few would use illegal means to
achieve it. Hiring Healers to work for us is another way to do so. Did Lorkin tell you of the promise Lord Akkarin made?”

“Yes. Akkarin never told me of it.”

“There was much that was concealed in that agreement. Queen Zarala also made a promise that she did not fulfil, though she
worked towards doing so all her life.”

Lorkin looked at Savara, remembering the former queen referring to such a promise. “
I was never able to uphold one thing I agreed to. Like him, the situation at home was more difficult to overcome than I’d
hoped
.”

“What was that?” his mother asked.

Savara’s expression was serious as she answered. “To do what the Guild failed to do seven centuries ago: destroy the Ashaki
and end slavery in Sachaka.”

As Tayend entered the Master’s Room, Dannyl frowned. “Achati may wish to speak to me alone.”

“Too bad. Like it or not, the king’s actions have a bearing on Sachakan relations with all Allied Lands,” the Elyne said.
“
Ambassador
” he added, to made it clear he considered this something he had the right to do.

Dannyl sighed. “Of course.” But his resistance was mostly habit. In truth, he was grateful for Tayend’s company. Having a
common cause, working together, and Tayend’s approval of Achati had changed something. They were no longer at odds. The resentment
at their parting was gone, or at least a thing of the past. He felt as if he could call Tayend a friend now and it wouldn’t
be an insult.

Having Tayend there would keep the meeting formal, too, which might make it easier to ignore his more personal feelings toward
Achati.
Like betrayal
.

Yet we know Achati got Lorkin out of Arvice
, he reminded himself.

“Lorkin is with Sonea,” Dannyl murmured. “I was communicating with Osen when Kai reported Achati’s arrival.”

Tayend’s eyebrows rose. “Good news.”

At a sound from the corridor, they turned to face the visitor. Tav, the door slave, arrived first and threw himself on the
floor. Achati walked in after him, smiling.

“Welcome Ashaki Achati,” Dannyl said. “As always, you seem immune to the disfavour that association with the Guild House seems
to engender.”

Achati spread his hands. “An advantage of my position, Ambassador Dannyl.” He nodded to Tayend. “Ambassador Tayend. It is
good to visit the Guild House in more pleasant circumstances than the last time.”

“If you mean in the company of the king’s spies, then I’d say the circumstances are likely to be much the same.”

Achati nodded sympathetically. “The king has far fewer scruples about such things than you expected.”

“It is generally good manners to at least
pretend
you aren’t spying on others. Even when it’s obvious you do so.”

Achati shook his head. “Really? Kyralians do have odd ideas about manners. But this is not what I came to talk to you about.”

Dannyl crossed his arms. “And that is?”

“I came to explain why I told the king of my part in Lorkin’s escape.”

“I think we have guessed,” Tayend told him. “You saw an opportunity to gain information from Lorkin.”

Achati nodded. “One that did not involve abduction, imprisonment, or worse. I took a risk that he would not keep to his word,
however. The king thought it reckless, but was eventually persuaded that it was the best course of action.” He took
a few steps closer. “You do understand that anything I do against the king’s wishes would eventually be discovered.”

Dannyl nodded. “Next time you wore his blood ring.”

“Yes. Initiative is a tricky issue for a king. When does it end and disobedience begin? There’s always the danger that knowing
what the king needs is interpreted as presuming what the king wants.”

“Did the king get what he wanted?”

Achati’s shoulder’s lifted. “No. He got what he needed. Not everything Lorkin knew, but enough.”

“Lorkin betrayed the Traitors?” Tayend shook his head in disbelief.

“He didn’t think he had, I suspect.” Achati’s smile was thin. “He thought he had tricked us, but he told us a lot more than
he realised.”

“What did he say?” Dannyl did not expect the Ashaki to answer. If the information was so important that the king had let Lorkin
go …

“He told us where the Traitor home is, just as he said he would.”

Tayend narrowed his eyes. “He said something vague, like ‘in the mountains’?”

“No. He said ‘Sachaka’.”

Achati watched expectantly as Tayend turned to frown at Dannyl. Returning the Elyne’s gaze, Dannyl nodded in understanding.

“He revealed that the Traitors consider the whole country their rightful home,” he explained. “Which means their hope isn’t
to remain hidden or become a separate people.” He turned to regard Achati. “Their hope is to, one day, rule Sachaka.”

“Ah,” Tayend said. “But that might not happen for years. And they may not win.”

“They won’t win,” Achati said firmly. “There can’t be as many of them living in the mountains as there are Sachakans in the
lowlands. We are, by far, the greater force. Which is why their usual means of meddling in our affairs is through spying and
assassination.” His expression became serious. “And that is why we have our own spies everywhere, including the Guild House
– though we did not have many here before Lorkin’s abduction because we didn’t think the Traitors would be interested in Kyralians.”

Dannyl frowned at the open admission of spies in the Guild House.

“They are here for your safety,” Achati assured him. “Lorkin was a different matter, of course, but that’s over now. The king
does not wish you harm. He does want good relations between the Allied Lands and Sachaka. As do I, since I enjoy your company.”
He looked from Dannyl to Tayend, to indicate he included both of them. “I consider you both my friends.”

Tayend looked at Dannyl. His eyebrows rose slightly, then lowered as he smiled. There was a hint of mischief in his gaze.
He turned back to Achati.

“Well then,” he said. “Would you like to stay for an evening drink? I don’t know about Dannyl, but I’d like to know more about
your plans to thwart a Traitor uprising.”

Surprised, Dannyl could only nod to show he approved of the idea. What was Tayend up to? Was he gathering information, or
planning to look for holes in Achati’s story, or test his declaration of friendship?

Though Dannyl knew he ought to do the same, he had to admit his heart was not in it.
It was easier when I didn’t
need to trust Achati
. Though he had to admit it only made Dannyl admire Achati more, knowing that he had deftly steered everyone – Lorkin, Dannyl
and Tayend, and the Sachakan king – to a solution that satisfied, if not pleased, them all.

Architecture was a subject that all novices learned, though most only received a basic training. Lilia had always thought
it was a grand term for what was mostly a menial task for magicians. Few magicians designed buildings, and since the Ichani
Invasion the popularity of buildings that relied on magic to stay up had diminished. Most magicians only used what they learned
in architecture classes to safely fix structures or speed the construction of new ones.

Both kinds of work required an understanding of non-magical construction techniques. There was no point lifting wall and roof
materials into place only to have them crashing down for lack of basic structural knowledge. A magician might also have to
deal with a collapsing building, and need to know how best to support it.

Lilia was willing to bet that it had been a long time since any magician had worked on secret underground rooms. The walls
Cery wanted her to strengthen were brick, not stone. Even without a layer of mortar between them, they wouldn’t bind together
like stone did. They didn’t have the same property that allowed stone to be suffused with magic, either. Magic slowly leaked
out of stone; whereas it dissipated quickly in bricks. Her only choice was to create a barrier at the surface of the bricks
to support them.

Drawing magic, she created a dome of force, expanded it until it met the walls, then shaped it to fit the corners. She
opened holes for the original door and for the newer hole she’d smashed through to the next room.